MDC-T Byo violence: Mayor, activists granted bail

MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairman, Gift Banda was yesterday granted $200 bail, while his 11 alleged accomplices in the public violence that erupted at the party offices on Sunday, were granted $50 bail each, when they appeared before magistrate, Franklin Mkhwananzi.

BY SILAS NKALA

Banda, who is Bulawayo deputy mayor, and his accomplices, are being charged with contravening section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Cap 9.23 (public violence), a charge they have denied.

As part of their bail conditions, the 12 MDC-T activists were ordered to report once a month to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law and Order Department, not to interfere with State witnesses and not to engage in any acts of violence.

The matter was remanded to April 6.

The State alleges that the activists connived and disrupted a consultative meeting organised by MDC-T deputy president, Thokozani Khupe at the party offices.

According to a warned and cautioned statement signed by Ncube, the MDC-T activists are alleged to have pelted party offices with stones and also vandalised property, which includes Khupe’s vehicle.

They are alleged to have injured some members, who include Khupe’s personal assistant, Witness Dube. But the activists, through their lawyers, accused police of being partisan and refusing to arrest members of the rival camp, who were also involved in the skirmishes.

MDC-T youths are ratcheting up pressure to dominate parliamentary and local government seats ahead of this year’s elections amid revelations that they are determined to fight under-representation and complement their youthful presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa. ...